Space Shuttle Update (56)

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Space Shuttle Endeavour

NASA – Space shuttle Endeavour is seen atop NASA’s Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA, at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Monday, Sept. 17, 2012 in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The SCA, a modified 747 jetliner, will fly Endeavour to Los Angeles where it will be placed on public display at the California Science Center. This is the final ferry flight scheduled in the Space Shuttle Program era. Image Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

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Is the Table Set for the Next Financial Crisis?

18a US Department of the Treasury – NRHP-71001007 (E) (Photo credit: Kansas Sebastian)

By Scott Rubin – The announcement of QE3 is wearisome for many reasons. When the Federal Reserve and Treasury started down the path of radical market intervention, many enlightened investors opined that the intervention may go on into perpetuity. By all accounts, this prognostication has been borne out thus far.

Asset prices have been artificially manipulated and do not reflect long-term economic reality. Consider for example, the U.S. Treasury market. The yield on the 10-year note is currently around 1.84 percent. Is this an accurate reflection of the credit-worthiness and fiscal situation of the U.S. government? Does it accurately reflect inflation expectations? more> http://tinyurl.com/95fr4tc

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Doubts plague Europe’s pledge for banking union

By John O’Donnell – Concerns are growing among European investors and lawmakers that plans for a eurozone banking union will end up half-baked, with the financial backstops required to underpin the ambitious scheme unlikely to be in place for years.

“Originally the idea of a banking union was to have deposit guarantees to stop the outflow of money from Spain,” said Sharon Bowles, who chairs the European Parliament‘s influential economic and monetary affairs committee.

“But they are shying away from mutualization and all you are left with is supervision, which if left on its own would have more drawbacks than benefits. It could split the (EU) single market.” more> http://tinyurl.com/9mmttj3

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• Analysis: Euro crisis tests limits of “French exception”, Paul Taylor, Reuters
• Calls for more time as Greece faces deficit squeeze, Nick Edwards and Harry Papachristou, Reuters
• Investors increase pressure on Spain to seek aid, Julien Toyer and Paul Day, Reuters
• EU executive approves $1.31 billion aid payout to Ireland, Reuters

Robotic Solar Panels Produce More Electricity

By Elizabeth Montalbano – People already can use motor-powered trackers to tilt solar panels toward the sun as it moves throughout the day to optimize energy output. However, these systems are often complex and expensive to install and maintain. The QBotix Tracking System (QTS) by Menlo Park, Calif.-based QBotix, however, is the first comprehensive and intelligent system to use robots to automate this task, reducing the amount of energy it takes to tilt the panels while optimizing energy production. more> http://tinyurl.com/9hee8of

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A Framework for Turning Individuals’ Strengths into Team Synergies

By George Bradt – Employees perform at different levels, when on different teams, in different situations with different people.

Why then do so few leaders spend so little time looking for synergies on their teams and so much time looking at individual performance?

In a hypothetical example, one manager is particularly strong at managing details, one at operations, and one is particularly strong at encouraging creativity. Unfortunately, the guy with the operating strength is managing the group that needs to be creative; the more creative guy is managing a group that needed to pay attention to details; and the detail-oriented manager is trying manage a complex operation. Moving each to the right role frees everyone up to perform better. more> http://tinyurl.com/8hy958l

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